Reports of shots fired causes panic at Valley Mall

Reports of a man with a gun and shots fired had police clearing people out of the Valley Mall and a helicopter circling overhead Wednesday night.

A man with a gun at Regal Cinemas was reported to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office at 8:50 p.m., then authorities also received a report of shots fired.

Accounts on social media said police put the mall on lockdown, and asked employees to hide in their back rooms as officers searched the mall with guns drawn. The helicopter circled Halfway for nearly an hour.

“Law enforcement personnel responded to the scene and after careful inspection of the property determined no active threat was present,” a news release from the sheriff’s office said.

“At this point, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office has been unable to confirm that any weapon was discharged or present in the cinemas,” the release continued.

No one was injured during the incident and the investigation continues.

The Hagerstown Police Department and the Maryland State Police assisted with the incident.